Marijuana is a very dangerous drug and the legalization of it is a controversial issue. Our nation is looking for ways to prevent our young people smoking cigarettes while also dealing with the enormous health costs associated with long-term smoking. If we were to simultaneously eliminate society’s attempts to restrict marijuana smoking, we would be sending mixed messages to our young people and encouraging an expensive as well as destructive habit.
It is also very dangerous for anyone attempting to drive on our streets, operate hazardous equipment, or pilot public transportation such as commercial aircraft while under the influence of mind altering drugs. The rights and protections to our society always need to be weighed with individual rights to engage in destructive behavior.
Warmest Regards,
Zach Wamp
Member of Congress
Uh, Rep. Wamp, the way that we reduced teen smoking to the lowest levels ever recorded was through public education, advertising restrictions, investment in treatment options (patches, gums, programs) and honest, science-based education. As for driving, explain why the individual right to drink beer outweighs protecting our society- why is that right to engage in destructive behavior protected but a right to a safer behavior is prohibited?
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Are there any herbal medicines that we are required to have a prescription or doctor’s recommendation for? I am not aware of any so why are we treating cannabis different that other medicinal herbs? I could march right out and cut me just about anything I want and not fear arrest, prison, loss of property, loss of job, loss of children….so why cannabis? Because it makes you feel good? Any substance that makes you feel good is prohibited or regulated by prescription with the exception of alcohol. Why is that? Hmmm. I can’t go pick a mellow mushroom or I’ll get thrown in jail but I can drink myself stupid or dead if I so please…why is that? Does any of the drug war make sense? ALCOHOL IS A DRUG. If I had lived my life as the arcane nanny laws would dictate what a shallow and meager existence I would have had. It is fine and legal to die and old drunk but we can’t tolerate old cannabis users? As a 40 year cannabis user who started in Vietnam I would have missed so much of the beauty of this world, the richness of everyday things we take for granted, the colors and sounds, and tastes, if I had been resigned to drinking booze these last 40 years. The greatest benefit of my cannabis use is that it has kept me away from alcohol. I am 60 years old and I am healthy and slim. I run 30 miles a week, work a 38 year job, never been absent or late for work, my wife adores me as I do her, my kid loves… what I am saying is pay attention to what is going on around you but always, always do what your common sense and logic tells you. Looking over my shoulder and being careful is scant payment for for the cannabis life I live and it has become a way of life but it is not intrusive at all. If this is what I risk to live my life free from the alcohol cartel. I learned long ago that if left to others I would go to church, fork over 10% of my money every sunday, never masterbate, “drink modestly”, oppose abortion, oppose gays…the list goes on. Do what pleases you as long as you are careful and responsible and let them write laws till the cows come home! I will not wait for their permission to use cannabis but I will smirk at them occasionally!
I am a 59 year old retired US Navy Chief Warrant Officer (with 30 years of service), who has raised 4 children and currently has 6
grandchildren. I take very seriously my responsibilities as a citizen of our great nation. It makes absolutely no sense what so ever that we allow our doctors the ability to prescribe a host of drugs that are far more lethal than marijuana (Opiate derivatives), and prescribe drugs that are manufactured forms of marijuana (marinol), yet, we will not allow them the ability to prescribe the natural grown herb. Where has this nations common since gone? It saddens me greatly when I read comments from our elected officials who obviously don’t have a clue of what the facts are.
I have to agree with Mr. Wamp. It would send a mixed message.
On the one hand, we have the very consistant, illogical prohibitionist programs that have been proven, after rigorous years of study, to not work.
Then, on the other hand, we have a very common-sense approach to cannabis that would deal with many problems at one time. To simultaneously enact sensible pot policy while continuing crazy prohibitionist policies does send a mixed message.
We have to overcome the evangelicals. They, perhaps more than anybody else, think they know more than you do, and they’re going to teach it to you for your own good. Around my neck of the woods, folks have largely ignored the ongoing pot discussion, and they’re still proudly posting pictures of pot busts.
Rep Wamp is a member of “the family” the cult behind c street
“Marijuana is a very dangerous drug..” bs!
As we’re able to prove that marijuana is NOT “a very dangerous drug” and that its prohibition is far more deadly than marijuana ever could be, then why is it so freakin’ hard to make this a national issue?!!
Nice to see that he has a firm stance on this issue and no open mind – he gave this exact same response to me. He doesn’t address any specific questions by the individual writers just sends the same form letter. I hear that he is not running for reelection this time and may be trying for governor instead. The good news, we may have an opportunity to replace him in Washington DC with someone more enlightened.